Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Need Comedy to Attract Older Audience

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Linda S
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Posted: 7/25/07 at 10:03am

If I can weigh in on " You Can't Take It With You"; It really is a favorite. We played to packed houses of all ages.The cast loved dong it, and surprisingly we had a good younger audience who loved all the silliness too. We had lots of grandparents bringing their grandchildren. It is prop heavy though, with a fair number of special effects. The printing press was a challenge, but we got one in the end.

Linda

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JohnEZ
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Posted: 7/25/07 at 10:32am

Thank you for the heads up about the printing press. It's kind of funny, actually--immediately after I read about it, I looked up printing presses on craigslist. It's a shame that I can't get approval for the play right now--there's one in my home town, cheap! What a shame.

Thanks again, Linda!
-John

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JohnEZ
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Posted: 7/25/07 at 3:36pm

Well, here's a bit of a status update. Earlier today, my mom had a few suggestions for me. One of them included Plaza Suite by Neil Simon.

I was interested, and looking at Samuel French, found out that it was done on Broadway with 3m, 2f, although the script calls for 7m, 5f. I got to thinking, if we could go with the 3m and keep 5f... well, it might be the ideal play, in spite of not necessarily being set in the time periods I mentioned.

Has anyone here done Plaza Suite? If so, would it be good, bad, or ugly, do you think?

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 7/27/07 at 8:28am

I think Plaza Suite is very very funny.

The cast listing is a little misleading - for instance, one of the female characters is only in the last 10 seconds of the Forest Hills section. Not really a problem to cast LOL.

It's also an easy set - one set for each playlet. Since it's a suite at the Plaza, you do need room for a bed, LOL, but at least there's no bizarre props/sets/etc.

Good luck.

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JohnEZ
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Posted: 7/27/07 at 9:32am

Awesome. I'm sure that the Plaza Suite set wouldn't be that bad to furnish, thankfully.

We may have just found our play. Thank you very much

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pdavis69
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Posted: 7/27/07 at 4:25pm

I think you may be missing the big boat with these old folks. Go for a musical. Old folks love nothing more than singing children, particularly if they are singing songs the old folks all know and remember.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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JohnEZ
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Posted: 7/27/07 at 4:31pm

I know what you mean, and I'd personally love to do a musical--however, we don't have any male actors who can sing, and we only have about 4 ladies who can sing. Furthermore, we don't have an orchestra... and with all due respect to those who have to go this route, I don't want to use a CD for backup music. We tried it once with lackluster results.

Thanks!
-John

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DWolfman
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Posted: 7/27/07 at 5:53pm

Another one you might try is:

The Cemetery Club by Ivan Menchell

5 females, one male

Even a man who is pure of heart...

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HRF22
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Posted: 7/28/07 at 4:35am

I suggest Moon Over Buffalo by Ken Ludwig. It is set in 1953 and there are many references in the play which would be very familiar to older audience members. A very funny play. We did this one recently and were pleasantly surprised by an email from the playwright, inquiring as to how the run went.

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BeJa
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Posted: 8/09/07 at 4:15pm

Being one of the "old folk," I like plays that are interesting, exciting and different. It doesn't need to remind me of my youth. Yes, every once in awhile I like to see a classic. But when I read about the "blue hair" audiences, it makes me cringe. Don't stereotype us, please. Thank you.

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Play Suggestions
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Play Suggestions

Topic: Need Comedy to Attract Older Audience( Topic Closed)
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Author	Message
Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 7/25/07 at 10:03am
	If I can weigh in on " You Can't Take It With You"; It really is a favorite. We played to packed houses of all ages.The cast loved dong it, and surprisingly we had a good younger audience who loved all the silliness too. We had lots of grandparents bringing their grandchildren. It is prop heavy though, with a fair number of special effects. The printing press was a challenge, but we got one in the end. Linda
	IP Logged

JohnEZ Walk-On Joined: 7/24/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/25/07 at 10:32am
	Thank you for the heads up about the printing press. It's kind of funny, actually--immediately after I read about it, I looked up printing presses on craigslist. It's a shame that I can't get approval for the play right now--there's one in my home town, cheap! What a shame. Thanks again, Linda! -John
	IP Logged

JohnEZ Walk-On Joined: 7/24/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/25/07 at 3:36pm
	Well, here's a bit of a status update. Earlier today, my mom had a few suggestions for me. One of them included Plaza Suite by Neil Simon. I was interested, and looking at Samuel French, found out that it was done on Broadway with 3m, 2f, although the script calls for 7m, 5f. I got to thinking, if we could go with the 3m and keep 5f... well, it might be the ideal play, in spite of not necessarily being set in the time periods I mentioned. Has anyone here done Plaza Suite? If so, would it be good, bad, or ugly, do you think?
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 7/27/07 at 8:28am
	I think Plaza Suite is very very funny. The cast listing is a little misleading - for instance, one of the female characters is only in the last 10 seconds of the Forest Hills section. Not really a problem to cast LOL. It's also an easy set - one set for each playlet. Since it's a suite at the Plaza, you do need room for a bed, LOL, but at least there's no bizarre props/sets/etc. Good luck.
	IP Logged

JohnEZ Walk-On Joined: 7/24/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/27/07 at 9:32am
	Awesome. I'm sure that the Plaza Suite set wouldn't be that bad to furnish, thankfully. We may have just found our play. Thank you very much
	IP Logged

pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 7/27/07 at 4:25pm
	I think you may be missing the big boat with these old folks. Go for a musical. Old folks love nothing more than singing children, particularly if they are singing songs the old folks all know and remember.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
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JohnEZ Walk-On Joined: 7/24/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/27/07 at 4:31pm
	I know what you mean, and I'd personally love to do a musical--however, we don't have any male actors who can sing, and we only have about 4 ladies who can sing. Furthermore, we don't have an orchestra... and with all due respect to those who have to go this route, I don't want to use a CD for backup music. We tried it once with lackluster results. Thanks! -John
	IP Logged

DWolfman Celebrity Joined: 7/07/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 134	Posted: 7/27/07 at 5:53pm
	Another one you might try is: The Cemetery Club by Ivan Menchell 5 females, one male
	Even a man who is pure of heart...
	IP Logged

HRF22 Walk-On Joined: 7/28/07 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/28/07 at 4:35am
	I suggest Moon Over Buffalo by Ken Ludwig. It is set in 1953 and there are many references in the play which would be very familiar to older audience members. A very funny play. We did this one recently and were pleasantly surprised by an email from the playwright, inquiring as to how the run went.
	IP Logged

BeJa Walk-On Joined: 5/31/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 8/09/07 at 4:15pm
	Being one of the "old folk," I like plays that are interesting, exciting and different. It doesn't need to remind me of my youth. Yes, every once in awhile I like to see a classic. But when I read about the "blue hair" audiences, it makes me cringe. Don't stereotype us, please. Thank you.
	IP Logged